Vodka and Antidepressants
 

I'm not sure if this is the right section to post this thread, but I figured it does concern health so here we go. I take the anti-depressent Prozac every night at 10 pm. I have heard that swallowing any depressents (sleeping meds, etc.) down with any liquor (such as vodka) can cause comas or death. My question is simple, if I drink some Vodka at around 4 PM and take my anti-depressent at 10 PM will I have a coma or anything strange.

I don't think it should have any effects on me considering I've washed down the liquor with water and some food since then. I think it's just taking the two things at once amplifies the effects of both. I could really use a second opinion though.

How much Vodka did you drink and how much food did you have? If the drinking was 1 or 2 and you had a full meal you should be ok. No I'm not a doctor but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

I drank occasionally when I was on anti-depressants, usually several hours after taking it, instead of before. Like the above poster said, it probably depends on how much you drink and eat. The times I drank, it was one, perhaps two drinks and no more, because it would make me nauseous. Honestly though, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist about this.

Might should ask your doctor about this one. In fact, if you're on antidepressents, I suspect drinking at all isn't a good thing. Alcohol is an antidepressent on it's own. That's why so many people with depression, bi-polar, etc. become alcoholics - they are self-medicating.

I reccomend youu do some reading and talk to your doctor. Also, you metabolize an ounce of alcohol every hour. Two drinks MEASURED at 1.5 ounces each would take three hours to process out. A beer or glass of wine is about the same amount unless you drink dark beer, which is usually higher.

Simple solution - take your Prozac in the mornings.

When I was on Celexa, a notable problem was irregular mood if I drank too close to taking my meds. It made me a bit, erm, loopy. Crazy is probably a better word.

Taking them in the morning fixed that problem.

Alcohol is a CNS depressant, as is Prozac (yes it is an antidepressant drug but CNS depression is not the same thing). They can stack and worst case could cause something like a coma. It's not altogether likely. Nevertheless, due to the risk it is recommended that you avoid alcohol while taking Prozac. If you must drink, keep it to a minimum. A longer time between dosage and drinking might help a little, but it's not going to be a lot, as Prozac stays in your body for a pretty long time (which is why they have Prozac weekly now).

Bingo... that's when I take my Wellbutrin XL. Well, not just for that reason... it also jacks me through the roof, so nighttime would be bad. :lol: :crazy: :thumbsup:

But taking any type of antidepressant directly with liquor isn't a good idea. I have a friend, though, who took her Zoloft and something else three times a day and is a raging alcoholic. I still don't know #1 Who'd prescribe it to her and #2 How she can go to work, drive, and be a mother to her kid. She's not so great at any of those, but she's not comatose or dead. It has floored me forever. Another took her Zoloft at night and went out and drank like a fish and we had to drag her home and she woke up the next evening.

Best bet is to just ask the prescribing doctor... "Look, I know you have to tell me not to mix alcohol with my meds, but I know I'm going to drink occasionally and I'd like to be responsible and honest, so could you tell me..." My doctor just about fell out when I said it. And he answered me very honestly as well.